What Positive News does

Positive News is a UK-registered media company (Positive News Publishing Limited) that publishes a magazine and digital channels dedicated to constructive and solutions-focused journalism. Founded in 1994 and headquartered at Holyoake House, Manchester, it produces a quarterly print magazine, a daily-updated website (positive.news), a weekly email newsletter, and a podcast, covering society, environment, lifestyle, science, economics, opinion, UK, and world topics. The print product is certified carbon neutral, printed on FSC-certified paper using vegetable-oil inks, and delivers UK and international subscriptions including a digital edition distributed through Exact Editions. The publication is regulated by IMPRESS and certified by Social Enterprise UK and Co-operatives UK.

The company is structured as a community benefit society and cooperative, owned by 1,500 readers and journalists across 33 countries who are governed by an elected board of directors. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: (1) print and digital magazine subscriptions (annual billing, auto-renewing; international shipping adds £20/year); (2) reader supporter/membership contributions, averaging £3/month or more; and (3) brand-partnership sponsored editorial content (labelled 'Supported by' or 'Promotional Feature') with purpose-led organizations such as Taylor Hopkinson, Thrive Renewables, University of York, and Yeo Valley Organic. Additional revenue includes single digital magazine downloads and retail stockist wholesale. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce (own website, Exact Editions platform), independent retail stockists in the UK, and a global co-owner/supporter community channel.

The technology backbone is a WordPress-based content management system with no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, proprietary models, or third-party AI integrations. Operating with a small editorial team of approximately 10-15 employees—including a CEO, COO, Editor, Associate Editor, Special Projects Lead, Partnerships Editor, and Customer and Community Liaison—Positive News differentiates via editorial methodology, 30 years of archive authority, cooperative ownership structure, and independent regulatory certifications rather than technology.

Name

Positive News

Legal name

Positive News Publishing Limited

Website

https://positive.news

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Positive News is a UK cooperative-owned media company that publishes daily online, weekly newsletter, quarterly print magazine, and podcast content focused exclusively on solutions-oriented journalism, serving 1,500 co-owner readers and supporters across 33 countries alongside purpose-led brand partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Constructive Journalism Publication

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312), Newspaper Publishers (513110), Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)

Keywords

• Constructive journalism
• Online news magazine
• Solutions journalism
• Independent media
• Sustainable publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Quarterly print magazine subscriptions sold directly through the website. UK and international delivery available. Includes digital access to back issues.
2. Supporter/Membership: Reader supporters who contribute financially, joining 1,500+ co-owners. Contributors give an average of £3 or more per month.
3. Brand Partnerships: Partner brands sponsor editorial content. Positive News creates compelling articles about social and environmental change that partners pay for. Content labeled as 'Supported by' or 'Promotional Feature'.
4. Digital Downloads: Single digital magazine downloads available through the website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Positive News is a media publication producing solutions-focused journalism distributed through a daily-updated website, a quarterly print magazine, a weekly email newsletter, and a podcast. The publication serves individual readers with constructive reporting on environment, society, science, economics, lifestyle, and world news, and also produces sponsored editorial content for purpose-driven brand partners. Revenue is generated primarily through print and digital subscriptions, reader donations, and branded content partnerships.

Product overview

Positive News is a media brand offering solutions-focused journalism across multiple channels: a daily-updated website with articles across Society, Environment, Lifestyle, Science, Economics, Opinion, UK, and World categories; a quarterly print magazine (published January, April, July, October); a weekly email newsletter; and a podcast. The core digital subscription includes access to the digital magazine edition through the online account system. Additional offerings include supporter donation programmes and co-owner membership in the community benefit society structure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Positive News Magazine (Print) Quarterly print magazine featuring in-depth constructive journalism on progress and possibility, published in January, April, July and October. Certified carbon neutral, printed on FSC certified paper using vegetable oil based inks and delivered in recyclable envelopes.
• Positive News Website (Daily Online Publication) Daily-updated online publication featuring articles on society, environment, lifestyle, science, economics, opinion, UK and world news, covering positive and solutions-focused journalism for individual readers.
• Weekly Newsletter Weekly email newsletter delivering curated positive news stories and updates on the publication directly to subscribers' inboxes.
• Positive News Podcast Audio podcast series featuring discussions on constructive journalism and stories of progress, distributed to listeners.
• Digital Magazine Access Digital edition of the Positive News magazine accessible online through the subscriber account, providing access to current and back issues.
• Co-owner Membership Community benefit society membership allowing readers to become co-owners of Positive News through a community share offer, with voting rights in director elections and a share in the cooperative's governance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% of people globally now avoiding the news - creating demand for alternative media like Positive News
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered current partner and previous partner.

• Taylor Hopkinsoncurrent partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerRecruitment and energy sector consultancy focused on positive change. Current partner of Positive News creating sponsored editorial content about their social and environmental impact.
• Thrive Renewablescurrent partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerRenewable energy organization. Current partner creating content about sustainable energy progress through Positive News.
• University of Yorkcurrent partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerAcademic institution. Current partner sharing positive stories about research and social impact through Positive News editorial.
• Yeo Valley Organiccurrent partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganic food and farming brand. Current partner creating sponsored content about organic agriculture and environmental stewardship.
• Exact Editionscurrent partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital publishing platform partner for digital magazine subscriptions, particularly gift subscriptions.
• Triodos Bankprevious partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerEthical banking institution. Previous partner that has sponsored editorial content on positive finance and social enterprise.
• Patagoniaprevious partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor apparel brand focused on environmental activism. Previous partner for sustainability-focused editorial content.
• BMW Foundationprevious partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation focused on responsible leadership. Previous partner for content about social entrepreneurship.
• Your Co-opprevious partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-operative retail brand. Previous partner for sponsored editorial content.
• Oikocreditprevious partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerMicrofinance and social investment organization. Previous partner for content on positive finance.
• Good Energyprevious partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerRenewable energy supplier. Previous partner for clean energy editorial content.
• Ecotricityprevious partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerGreen energy company. Previous partner for sustainability-focused sponsored content.
• Pukka Herbsprevious partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganic tea and herbal remedy brand. Previous partner for wellness and sustainability content.
• Inntravelprevious partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerSlow travel company. Previous partner for sustainable tourism editorial content.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PositiveNewsUK

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Positive News